Taking leaps into fresh pools and finding zen in waterfalls.

Whenever I escape the concrete jungle of NYC, I try to find patches of nature and breathe in as much as humanly possible.

On our second and final day in Puerto Rico, we drove 1.5 hours outside of cosmopolitan San Juan to El Yunque Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US national park system.

Coca Falls can be seen from the road on the drive up.

El Yunque has nicely paved trails and tame walkways for the most part. I was hoping to get my fitness on via some steep inclines, but these trails were great for a nice morning walk regardless.

I like trees.

There are 6 different trails you can take up El Yunque. We picked La Mina so that we could follow the winding river up to La Mina waterfall for a quick (freezing) dip.

Puerto Rico has about 270 miles of beach to frolick along. After leaving El Yunque, we took a 45 minute ride to Luquillo, a local beach.

On a Sunday, Luquillo was brimming with families on jetskis and awkward teens on dates. (Don’t lie. You can relate.)

Hanging off the piers and catching the breeze with our feet.

We spent our last 2 hours at the Luquillo Kiosks, a stretch of 60-or-so outdoor food stalls next to the beach.

The kiosks serve everything from traditional monfongos (mashed plantains) and morcilla (blood sausages), to ceviche and fried everything, like this tasty but salty little friend. After we got our fill of local snacks and rum-y drinks, we made our way back to the airport. Good-bye for now, Caribbean Sun. See you again in May :D

Every few months, the travel bug creeps on me like clockwork.

So last weekend, I rallied my partner-in-crime and together, Kevin and I ravaged Hitlist for a last-minute weekend getaway. As usual, the criteria was simple: flights had to cost no more than 2 weeks worth of eating out ($400 or less), the plane ride no more than 5 hours, and the destination flip-flop-friendly. Our answer was Puerto Rico.

We landed Friday night and spent Saturday morning exploring Old San Juan. Our first destination: Castillo San Cristóbal, the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World.

Partner-in-crime, Cap’t Kevin D.

Peeking out through the second level of the fort. Kevin was in the military and I’m a not-so-closet closet nerd. So if you’re into military trivia ( Kevin) + random bits of history (me), here’s a pretty good breakdown of Cristobal and its little secrets (like its underground tunnel system).

Inside Cristóbal.

From atop of the fort is this amazing sprawl of city. On our way out, we stopped at the Museo de San Juan. Its location is epic: its entrance faces the Atlantic Ocean and the museum sits nonchalantly between two centuries-old forts. No big deal.

It was too glorious of a day to spend inside so we didn’t actually venture into the museum. Instead we got distracted by the Saturday farmer market’s in the courtyard.

Homemade goodness like fresh tamales lined the market tables.

We found the world’s cutest pineapples at another table.

A stand cranking out fresh sugarcane juice.

We took our hot tamales for an impromptu picnic outside Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the second of the two 400-year-old fortifications surrounding Old San Juan.

Inside, we strolled around its 6 levels until we found a secluded wall for some optimal ocean-viewing.

A 5-minute walk from El Morro, is Ballajá Barracks built by the Spanish militia for its troops and families. We pit stopped for views + coffee. For $6, you walk upstairs to check out the Museo Las Americas.

And of course, the beach. Puerto Rico has 270 miles of sandy coast to frolick on. So we took a 20 minute drive to the popular, but still pristine Isla Verde for a splash.

Saturday night ceviche. We popped into Bagua, a local (but highly Yelp-ed) seafood place near our AirBnB in Ocean Park. Fresh grouper in plantain tacos.

With the recent political talks with Cuba, it seemed appropriate to kick 2016 off with a Map&Move trip that tested a few boundaries.

Current headlines like “CheapAir.com Now Selling Direct Flights to Cuba”, make it sound like Americans can just jet off to the island and daintily sip Cuba Libres on the beach. While it’s nice to imagine that you can just erase 50 years of political weirdness in a few months, ya can’t. In reality the official rules posted by OFAC haven’t changed much. You still need 1 of 12 reasons to visit (legally from the US anyway) and the most common one (obviously) points to a pricy tour.

So naturally, a Map&Move trip had to test out a few things. First would be the prep work. After mind-numbing hours of calls with the embassy, airlines and complicated websites, everything (mostly) worked out in the last hour.

As with any worthwhile trip, a good crew is a must, and the group that signed up for this trip promised to be a fun and eclectic one. Being the only US citizens, Amy and I left from NYC, Jorge and Michel from Mexico City, and Karmin and Philo later from Montreal.

Amy and I headed out from NYC at midnight. After a 10 hour bus ride, we arrived at Montreal at 5am. We had 4 hours to explore the city before our flight to Havana. Unluckily for us, we arrived right at the start of a blizzard. Our toes frozen into little baby carrot stumps by the time we boarded our flight.

Four hours later… touchdown. We landed at Jose Marti International Airport and found ourselves in a parallel universe.

After dropping our bags off at our accommodations for the night, we took off to explore Vedado, the business and urban district of Havana and found ourselves at the entrance of an old warehouse-turned art space.

Any misconceptions of Havana being one giant homogenous city “stuck in the 50’s” were abruptly and deliciously squished (just as I hoped) by the contemporary art scene. Giant projections framed the entrance of an outdoor patio.

One of the bars in the warehouse.

One of my favorite pieces from the contemporary art, modern jewelry and furniture smattered around the space.

Wood etching.

Alcoves and room connected outdoor spaces for dranks and la música under the stars. Ahh, we made it.

So after two weeks of touring of the US, Calvin and I were ending our American road trip in Madison, Wisconsin.

We’d just had one of our best gastronomical experiences in recent memory in Chicago a few hours before, and now we were darting over to the University of Madison-Wisconsin for a talk on Travel 101. Sleep-deprived. Can you tell?

Our talk on “Travel 101” at the Midwest Asian American Student Union (MAASU) Spring Conference. Nothing like an energizing talk on your favorite subject… and lots and lots and lots of caffeine to perk you right up.

At the post-conference gala dinner with these exceptional speakers. Continuing the trend of strolling into fancy occasions in jeans and heels. *Note to self: write a post about growing up (caring less and less about what other people think) and women on the go (overconfident in jeans and heels).

We had a few hours to mingle and explore campus. Then we were off to catch a 2:20am bus back to Chicago, where were bound for South America. But first a layover in Aruba…

Our Great American Road Trip had ended, and we said our goodbyes to our beloved Route 66 Crew in San Francisco. But for Calvin and I, we still had a ways to go.

We were scheduled to speak at a conference in Madison, Wisconsin the next day. So after spending the last week driving 2,000 miles from Chicago to San Francisco, we dropped off our RV’s and sped out of the rental lot to catch a flight with a layover in.. you guessed it, Chicago. Lucky for us, Calvin’s inner fat kid sensibility had the foresight to make dinner reservations during our 6 hour layover months before. That’s right, I said months. If the thought of waiting on a ticket queue (that seems longer than a line to a free Jay Z concert in Brooklyn) puts a sour taste in your mouth, than Alinea’s 16-course pre-fixe experience seems to rectify the bougie admission process.

True to backpacking form, we rolled into Alinea- one of the world’s top restaurants- with our bags still covered in dust from Route 66. We started our marathon meal with a game of hide-and-seek: a piece of dehydrated root jerky hidden in a nest of branches.

We’re on our final day of driving. Hard to believe that we’ve been on the road for nearly 2 weeks. 1,700 miles from our humble beginnings in NYC to Memphis, and another 2,400 miles on Route 66.

As if the journey wasn’t long enough, we’re ending not at the original end of Route 66 in LA, but in San Francisco to return our 3 RV rentals. Nearly 500 miles to go.

The rest of the group left before us this morning, so it’s Just Calvin and I left in our RV. We’re cutting across the entire state of California today, from Needles to San Francisco.

We’re just 2 hours in and we’re already drowsy. This becomes our salvation: a creepy, abandoned house on the side of the road, in the middle of Nowhere, California. We couldn’t resist getting out to stretch and explore.

What was the story behind the house? Broken glass and tape cassettes (yes, remember those?) litter the floors and what looked like a cozy fireplace and family home. The kitchen that was once painted bubble gum pink has been redecorated with graffiti and a nice sprinkle of gun shot holes.

Hour 3: Why are windmills so mesmerizing? We passed by this field of them near Bakersfield, CA.

Hour 4: We’re in need of a snack break. An unexpected Farmer’s Market in Bakersfield, CA saves the day.

We pitstop for fresh California fruit, fried meat pie (so good), and mini nap in the RV. I love this mobile sleep machine.

California sunshine in the form of juice and sugar. This was badly needed.

The sun is setting and we still have 4 hours to go. Another mini nap, another snack stop, and we’re off!

It’s 2 am. FINALLY. We’re at the so-called 2 mile bridge entering San Francisco, which feels like 20 miles right now. We’ve made it from one end of the state to the other. Good night.

We’re finally nearing the Grand Canyon, the monumental piece of America that first inspired 15 people to haul ass in 3 hulking (but wonderful) RV’s across 16 states.

We left Wigwam Motel this morning, the last of the charmingly kitschy hotel chain first started in the 1930’s.

Sleeping in fake teepees called “wigwams” in the desert of Arizona- is probably as politically-incorrect as it gets. Yet, who can resist the nostalgic, Disney-esque charm of sleeping in forts like these?

2 hours of unexpected traffic later, we made it to the Grand Canyon, the piece of earth that’s been 200 million years in the making.

We arrived in Albuquerque, NM late last night and this morning, we spent our time ravaging green chile burritos at Frontier, a quirky college spot with homemade tortillas on the menu and rifles on the walls (we did say quirky, didn’t we?).

Our next stop was “Old Town”, the (surprise) oldest part of the city. We took in the chill vibes of the city over some cool, local brews where centuries-old peublo homes have converted to shops, cafes and galleries. In the center rests San Felippe, a charming 300-year-old Parish.

Just being weird.

We couldn’t leave the city without (of course) finding the house from Breaking Bad. And if you haven’t seen the show yet, please

Oh, just doing some cartwheels in the nabe.

Practicing some moves.

Finding just the perfect angle for a photo opp.

We had 45 minutes until the national park closed. Possibly the most frantic and amazing sightseeing ever.

What makes a man suddenly wake up one day and decide to build the World’s Biggest Rocking Chair? We’re not sure, but here it is in Fanning, Missouri.

Grand Falls is the largest, continuously flowing natural waterfall in Missouri. And how you visit a waterfall without posing for some boy-band photos?

The falls take a 25 feet plunge over a solid ledge.

The old Union Train Depot that’s now defunct and been turned into a jazz museum.

Upon entering Tulsa, Oklahoma, you won’t see much. A few sculptures line mostly wide, run-down roads. But what we came to see was the Center of the Universe…

We weren’t sure what to except at the Center of the Universe, this 8 ft wide unassuming-looking concrete circle. But stand in the middle, and make a noise. You’ll realize why it’s so bizarre when the noise is echoed back several times louder. It’s like standing in the middle of an invisible amphitheater where a pin drop sounds like a gong. What’s equally weird is that is that no one standing outside of the circle can hear it. Twilight Zone.

POP’s soda in Arcadia, Oklahoma

Literally thousands of sodas line the walls of this giant diner/ store in the middle of nowhere.

FINALLY. We’ve been on the road for 8 days, but today marked our official start on Route 66, the infamous 2,400 mile road that was the mother of all US highways. This is what we’ve been on a quest to see: the kitschy, quirky, only-in-America roadside icons that follow the now defunct route through 8 states and 3 time zones.

Route 66 is no longer part of the US highway system; most of it has either been absorbed into other interstates and trail off into dirt roads that lead to nowhere. And if we were going to see America, we were going to do it proper: in RV’s.

Tip: if you’re going to drive through long stretches of reception-less highway, get some long-range walkie talkies. They’ll great for coordinating between multiple cars. Plus, it’s fun it say things like, “Roger that.”

15 people, 3 RV’s and 2,400 miles to go. Jorge is ready.

Kel and Duncan in RV SilverFox.

Roughly around the age of Don Draper, there were other advertising studs like these. “The Gemini Giant” in Wilmington, IL is one of the few fiberglass statues from the 60’s. Statues like these used to flank the entrances of burger and hot dog drive-in’s all along Route 66.

heading into St Louis to take on the LEGO pits and adult jungle gym of awesomeness at the City Museum, in downtown St. Louis.

We started the day with a 4am wake-up call. The plan was to fly out of Memphis to pay homage to the food and architecture capital of the Midwest, Chicago.

But due to shenanigans involving broken planes, our flight was delayed by a good three hours. SMH. To make up for lost time, we headed straight to Millennium Park, the public art space built to celebrate the start of the century and home of the infamous Cloud Gate (below).

Shameless selfies at Cloud Gate, the iconic Chicagoan sculpture by artist, Anish Kapoor. Since its inauguration in 2005 though, this 110-ton(!) piece has been known as “The Bean”.

The underside of The Bean is concave, kind of like a shallow bowl. So walking underneath the massive legume is like into the trippy mirrors of an amusement part fun house. On the right, is just another example of the city’s rich legacy of architecture.

We followed the guidance of our friend to the Bongo Room, home what he’d claimed to be the best brunch in Chicago. The huge portions of delicious did not disappoint. Pictured: the Vegetarian Breakfast Croissant.

The Bongo Room’s signature red velvet pancake is a massive doughy dream drizzled with vanilla sauce and nuts. Be prepared for a food coma.

Finally! At the official start of Route 66, one of the original highways in the U.S. We’ll be driving on this monster of an interstate for the next 6 days. All 2,448 miles of it.

Route 66 Crew

#architecture

We ended our day with views and drinks from the John Hancock Building (amazing) and deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s (New York pizza still wins hands down).

The first leg of our Great American Road Trip ended in Memphis, the home of Elvis, rock n’ roll, the site where the great Martin Luther King was assassinated, and where the energy of Beale St. radiates at night.

Breakfast at Barista Parlor, a hipster coffee joint housed in a garage with an outdoor stage. Friendly, bearded servers in lumberjack shirts bring you over-priced, artisan coffee and gourmet sweets. Like being back home in Brooklyn, but friendlier.

Instead of handing you a receipt with your order number, Barista Parlor gives you this: your very own cardboard companion.

Music Hall of Fame. Photo credit: Jorge

Music Hall of Fame.

The King’s meditation pool in Graceland.

A mural on Main Street by the Lorraine Hotel.

In the “Jungle Room”, the infamous corners where the King hung out with friends.

Mod TV’s at Graceland

Lorraine Hotel

At the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. stood when he was assassinated.

Sun Studios

Martin Luther King Jr. stands with other civil rights leaders on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., April 3, 1968, a day before he was assassinated at approximately the same place. From left, are Hosea Williams, Jesse Jackson, King, and Ralph Abernathy. The 39-year-old Nobel Laureate was the father of non-violence in the 1960s civil rights movement. Photo Credit: AP

When Calvin from The Monsoon Diaries and I first planned this road trip we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. He’s a New York City native through and through, and both of us were much more intrigued by seeing the rest of the world than exploring our own backyard, America.

Driving across the state of Tennessee today, reminded me of the crazy and at the same time, mesmerizing contradictions that this country represents.

We stopped at an outdoors shop off the interstate. Guns in every color of the rainbow and taxidermied carcasses from every creature of the animal kingdom seemed to line the store’s walls. We were definitely weren’t in NYC anymore.

Hunting trophies of the store owner and his daughter: hippos from Tanzania, mountain goats from the Himalayas, wildebeests… Yowza.

We found Tennessee Moonshine.

Hours later, we arrived in Nashville. It was a completely different world than the one we transversed for the last 6 hours.

Taking Nashville by night. Music and cowboy boots on Main Street.

We stopped by The Southern Steak & Oyster for some awesome experimental Southern grub. Homemade hot sauce and egg over bacon pasta.

ABOUT US

Map&Move is a group for travelers with a zest for adventure, meeting new people, and rallying for a good cause. When we're not on the road, we organize micro adventures, spontaneous bar crawls, fun skill shares, and volunteer events in NYC. Join us!